Propeller adjusting device for marine motors



W. L. GEE

Jam u19, 1943.

PROPELLBR ADJUSTING DEVICE Foa MARINE MOTORS Filed June 26,- 1941 Patented Jan. 19, 1943 PROPELLER ADJUSTING DEVICE FOR MARINE MOTORS Wayne L. Gee, Maple Lake, Minn.

Application June 26, 1941, `Serial No. 399,797

Claims.

This invention relates to variable pitch marine propellers, and particularly to conveniently accessible adjustment or control mechanism closely associated with the driving mechanism and propeller blades for varying the pitch of said blades in jt desired manner.

I of the class described combined in close working relationship with the oscillatory mounting and propeller shaft of usual outboard ,motors and constructed for quick control to vary and reverse the pitch of the propeller blades, and readily lockable in any of the positions of adjustment within the range provided.

These and other objects and advantages will be more apparent from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to theI same parts throughouty the several views, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a view partly` in side elevation and partly in vertical section, showing an outboard motor having an embodiment of my invention applied thereto; n

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1vshowing al connection between the longitudinally movable actuating member and the variable pitch blades of the propeller;

Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. l, showing the enlarged bearing for the tubular post and manipulating lever, and

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. l.

As shown' in the drawing, my improved mechanism is applied to an outboard motor constructed for the most part of conventional form having the motorv proper including a cylinder C, fly wheel F, gas tank T and other Working parts of the motor mounted on the top of a tubular postP through which the vertical driving shaft l axially extends and is connected at its upper end with the crank shaft of the motor. The

outboard motor shown is provided with an underwater unit U of conventional shape for em ciently cutting and displacing the water and constituting a housing for certain of the working parts, including a driving connection between the driving shaft 'I and the horizontal propeller shaft 8 housed therein. The lower and horizontal portion of underwater unit U is of torpedo shape having a pointed nose and, as shown, a rear end tightly closed by a bearing plug 9. Ihe water supply pipe I0 for the cooling system cf the engine extends upwardly from an intake neck II having a conventional type of water pump mounted therein, the pump being secured to a horizontal plate I2 aidxed to the upper end of unit U. Water pipe I0 extends substantially parallel with the post P and passes through sleeves I9 and 20 aillxed to said post, and is connected at its upper end with the water jacket of the motor.

Tubular post P rigidly connected at its lower end with the underwater unit U, is mounted for oscillation in an enlarged bearing sleeve I3 which is rigidly connected or integrally formed with a heavy arm I3a pivotally connected by a nutted bolt I4 with the upper end of a motor attachment bracket I5 of yoke formation. The sleeve I3, and with it the entire motor, tubular shaft P and underwater unit, is swingable on thehorizontal axis of bolt I4. Yoke bracket I5 is provided With the conventional clamping faces |50, for engagement with the outer surface of the stern board of a boat, and the usual clamping bolts I6 cooperate with the bracket by threaded engagement with a pair of tapped lugs I5b in-l tegrally formed with the bracket proper and spaced inwardly from the clamping surfaces |50.. The yoke bracket I5 has at its lower portion, spaced, sector-shaped stop-retaining arms I5c slotted arcurately concentric of the pivot bolt I4 for receiving a nutted clamping boit I1 which secures an abutment plate I8 of conventional type for engaging an enlarged sleeve I9 rigidly connected with the intermediate portion of tubular post P in such position as to lengage said abutment. The upper portion of post P is provided with a second enlarged sleeve 20 flanged at the upper and lower ends thereof and fitting the supporting bearing sleeve I3 with working clearance for oscillation.

Propeller shaft 8 in the embodiment shown is tubular, being journalled in the plug bearing 9 which closes the r'ear end of the lower torpedo portion of the underwater unit U. The tubular propeller shaft 8 has affixed to the rear portion thereof, within the housing of unit U, a bevelled driven gear 8a which is constantly meshed with the driving gear 'la fixed to the lower end of the vertical driving shaft |2. The propeller unit is rearwardly and axially mounted on the bearingr cap 9 comprising a symmetrical hollow hub 2| wherein mechanism for varying the pitch of the propeller blades 22 is mounted. Propeller blades 22 are mounted for oscillation by means of axially extending shanks 22a which are journalled in tapped bearings cast or otherwise integrally formed with the hub structure, the blades projecting from opposite sides of hub 2| with their shanks 22a disposed in parallel spaced arrangement carrying gear pinions 2227, said pinions 2 2b being opposed and spaced apart for reception of and driving connection with a cylindrical rack rod or actuating connection 23. Actuating connection has its outer end slidably journalled in a tapped stud cap 24 threadedly engaging and closing the outer end of hub 2| The medial portion of said rod 23 is telescopically mounted within the tubular propeller shaft 8 extending therethrough and having'its forward portion slid-ably journalled in the tapped forward end of the torpedo portion of the unit U.. As shown, the tubular propeller shaft 8 is connected to drive the propeller hub 2| by means of a shear pin set screw 25, although any other suitable connecting means may be utilized. The portion of actuating rod 23 between the forward end of propeller shaft 8 and the forward extremity or slide portion of the rod is constructed in similar manner to the rack rod portion 23a at the rear thereof, the rod being provided with a series of rounded annular flanges 23h spaced apart to nicely mesh with an adjustment pinion 26a which is fixed to the lower end of upstanding adjustment shaft 26, said shaft passing through a suitable packing gland 26e at the top of the housing U and extending upwardly through an aligned bore formed in sleeve I9 and a second aligned bore 20a formed in the upper retaining sleeve 20 of the tubular post. The upper end of adjustment shaft 26 is provided with a radially extending handle 2Gb which may be, as shown, integrally formed therewith, said handle being disposed just below the steering arm S of the outboard motor in convenient position to be manipulated. Shaft 26 and the handle 2Gb are detachably locked in any one of a number of various radial positions by suitable means such as a retaining sector 21 fixed to the sleeve I3 and having retaining notches on the upper edge thereof opposed to said handle. v

In operation, with the motor running, the propeller is driven by means of the connection of hub 2| with the tubular propeller shaft B. The outer end of the bearing cap 9 at the rear of the underwater unit `acts as a thrust bearing for the opposing end of the propeller hub and the bevel gear 8a is constantly meshed with the bevel gear la at the lower end of the driving shaft |2.

For full forward speed the controlling handle 26h is conveniently set at one extreme position, turning adjustment shaft 26, which through its pinion connection with the actuating rod 23 tilts propeller blades 22 to the" most efficient angle for forward travel of the boat. Adjustment shaft 26 and the propeller blades are maintained in the desired adjusted position by retention of the handle 26h in the appropriate notch of the retaining sector 2l. Propeller blades 22 may be adjusted to various pitch positions between full speed forward position and most efficient reverse positions by swinging handle 26h and setting the same in the various positions within the range provided by sector 2l. In the intermediate positions, the speed of the boat may be slowed down as desired for trolling or extremely slow movement, and all shifting and adustment may be accomplished, of course, While'the motor is running. It will be noted in my construction that no levers or shipper forks are provided Yfor making actuating connection between the adjustment shaft and variable pitch propeller blades. My longitudinally movable actuating rod is at all times positively connected with the adjustment shaft 26 and with the plnions 22h of the propeller blades. Adjustment shaft 26 is properly positioned and .iournalled in the tapped bearings provided in the sleeves |3 and |9 fixed to tubular shaft P.-

It will be seen that the outboard motor may be swung for steering ln conventional manner without in any way interfering with the adjustment or operation of my mechanism, and that further the entire motor and underwater unit may be tilted on the horizontal axis of bolt I4 to avoid obstructions or elevating the underwater unit when the boat is beached. The construction of the actuating connection or rack rod 23 with the fillets or spaced annular rack flanges, provides a highly efficient actuatingconnection between the adjustment shaft and variable pitch propeller blades, minimizing the wear of the connecting parts and making it possible for rod 23 to turn from friction without undue wear or fracture of the parts.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, ar-

rangements and proportions of therparts withy out'departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In outboard motor construction of the type having a tubular post, a motor at the upper end thereof and an underwater unit at the lower end thereof and a propeller shaft journalled in said underwater unit; variable pitch propeller mechanism comprising a longitudinally shiftable actuating member mounted in said underwater unit concentrically with said propeller shaft, a propeller having a plurality of blades mounted for oscillation, actuating connections between said blades and said actuating member, an adjustment shaft extending upwardly from said underwater unit to the top of said post, said adjustment shaft having toothed driving engagement at its lower end within said unit with said actuating member for longitudinally shifting the same, and means at the upper end of said shaft for facilitating rotation thereof to adjust the pitch of said blades.

2. In outboard motor construction of the type having a tubular post, a motor at the upper end thereof and an underwater unit at the lower end thereof and a propeller shaft journalled in said underwater unit; variable pitch propeller mechanism comprising a longitudinally shiftable actuating member mounted insaid underwater unit concentrically with said propeller shaft, a propeller having a plurality of blades mounted for oscillation, actuating connections between said blades and said actuating member, an adjustment shaft extending upwardly from said underwater unit to the top of said post, said adjustment shaft having toothed driving engagement at its lower end with said actuating member for longitudinally shifting the same, said tubular post having a radially enlarged journalled portion adjacent its upper end, means for pivotally mountadjustment shaft is mounted, and means at they upper end of said Shaft for facilitating rotation thereof to adjust the pitch of said blades.

3. The structure set forth in claim 2, said adfor oscillating said blades, an adjustment shaft extending upwardly from said underwater unit in substantially parallel relationship with said driving shaft, said adjustment shaft having a pinion fixed to the lower portion thereof within said unit, said actuating rod having a series of longitudinally spaced circular rack elements meshed with said adjustment pinion within said unit, and means at the upper end of said adjustment shaft for facilitating oscillation thereof.

justment shaft extending through the upper end 10 of said underwater unit in parallel relationship 5. In outboard motor construction of the 'genwith and outside of said tubular post, and means eral type having a tubular post, a motor at the for retaining said shaft in a multiplicity of difupper end thereof and an underwater unit at ferent adjusted positions. the lower end thereof; variable pitch propeller 4. In outboard motor construction of the type i5 mechanism comprising, a propeller shaft jourhaving a tubular post, a motor at the upper end nalled in said underwater unit, a longitudinally thereof, a driving shaft mounted within said shiftable actuating member mounted Within said post, an underwater unit secured to the lower underwater unit concentrically of said propeller portion of said post and a propeller shaft jourshaft, a propeller having a plurality of blades unalled in said underwater unit and drivably cono having shanks journalled transversely of said nected with said driving shaft; Variable pitch propeller shaft, said shanks having toothed conpropeller mechanism comprising an actuating nection within said underwater unit with said rod mounted in said underwater unit concenlongitudinally shiftable actuating member to trically with said propeller shaft, a propeller havoscillate said; blades, and an adjustment shaft ing a hub and a plurality of blades having shanks 5 extending upwardly from said underwater unit mounted for oscillation in said hub, said Shanks and having a pinion afxed to the lower portion each having a pinion xed thereto, said pinions thereof within said unit, said actuating member being disposed in an orbit, said actuating rod carrying a rack in mesh with said pinion. having a series of longitudinally spaced circular rack elements meshed with said several pinions 30 WAYNE L. GEE. 

